Stirrup



(N0 ModeL).

A. MAYBE,

STIRRUP.

No. 473,075.. PatentedApr. 19, 1892.

Hmmmmfggm AB UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT MAYER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STIRRU P.

SPECIFICATION forming kpart of Letters Patent No. 473,075, dated April 19, 1892.

Application filed October 30, 1891. Serial No. 410,393. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT MAYER, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of attachand terminating in astaple through which are reve leather straps dependingfrom the saddle.

My improved stirrup comprises substantially the saine elements, with this difference, that the staple is made detachable and provided with means adapted to keep it rmly in position when all is normal, but which will quickly set it free if anything goes wrong.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation of the stirrup complete, looking at the rear thereof-that is to say, the side next the rider. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section from the center of Fig. l, the staple being removed. Fig. 4 is a plan of that part of the stirrup-iron which receives the staple, showing how the latter is released; and 5 is a detailed View in perspective of the detached staple.

Similarletters referto similar parts in all the vlews.

The letter A represents the base or foot plate, which may be made of any suitable material and given any desirable shape. Secured to this base and rising upwardly from the ends c hereof is an arched piece B, which forms a loop through which the foot may project and constitutes, together with the base, the stirrup-iron proper.

The stirrup-iron does not vary from the ordinary construction, except that it is made without the usual staple for thesaddle-thongs, and presents instead slits b b', cut lengthwise and at right angles to each other into its top and side, and a hole b2, facing the side slit b, runs through from the upper to the lower edge of the topmost part of the iron b from the rear side of the iron to the vertical slit, and

b2 from the latter to the face of the iron.

C is my improved staple, which consists of an elliptical ring adapted to receive the stirrup-leathers and of a lug c, depending therefrom. The base of the ring is made wide to afford it a good seat upon the arched piece B, into the vertical slit b of which the lug c is inserted. The lug c has a T-shaped opening, the upper part of which registers with the side slit and hole above described.

Through the lug of the staple C passes a flat-headed or T-shaped pin D, which is tted and adapted to move longitudinally in the slit b and hole b2 across the top part of the stirrup-iron, the stem of the pin running through the hole b2 and the head through the slitted side. It is the head of this pin which keeps the staple in position when lying across the slit b, as it is then engaged by the inwardlyprojecting ends of the lug c. Thelug is freed only when the stem of the pin lies within its opening. The pin D is kept up and normally held in engagement with the staple C by means of a spring E. This spring is riveted or otherwise secured to the lower part of the stirrup -iron and follows the curve of the arched piece, from which it stands o at the upper end at the point where-the pin is fastened to it, so as to keep the head of the latter well drawn in in the lug of the staple. E is nearly elliptical in cross-section, or else rounded at the edges, in order not to cut nor chate the boots of the rider when coming in contact therewith. It also varies somewhat in thickness, being stronger at the points where it holds the locking-pin and where riveted to the loop, but of slender form and of more .resilient nature where it deilects from the face of the stirrup-iron.

The operation is obvious. Should one using a pair of my improved stirrups be thrown oit his horse and by mischauce his feet vbe caught in the loops, the point of his feet will naturally encounter and strike against the spring E, upon which the whole weight of his body will be thrown. This will draw back the spring close to the stirrup-iron, as shown at Fig. 4, thereby pushing back the pin D, the stem of which only will remain in the lug of the staple, and as then the body of the rider will IOO lean toward the ground and the animal bearing the saddle will be going in an opposite direction the stirrup-iron and staple will readily pull apart and liberate the rider.

Thus I produce an attachment for saddles which highly commends itself not only for the elegance of its design or the economy of its manufacture, but far morestill for the noble purpose it is called to fill in saving thelife or limbs of people.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The combinati0n,with a stirrup-iron having a vertical slit through its upper part, a side slit at right angles thereto, and a hole opposite said side slit, of a staple provided with a ALBERT MAYER.

In presence 0f- R. R. STRAIN, HORACE D. RANLITT.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 473,075, granted April 19, 1892, upon the application of Albert Mayer, of San Francisco, California, for an improvement in Stirrups,7 errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows In line 49, page 1, a period should be inserted after the Word slit, and the comma after the reference letter b, same line, should be stricken out, and in line 5l, same page, a comma should be inserted after'the Word iron, and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that Iche same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 3d day of May, A. D. 1892.

eYnus BUssEY, Assistant Secretary of the Interior,

[SEAL] Gountersigned W. E. SIMONDS,

Commissioner of Patents. 

